A lesson Cong could use

Foresight IS not what one can accuse Sonia Gandhi's trusted advisors of possessing.

Foresight IS not what one can accuse Sonia Gandhi's trusted advisors of possessing. Else, why did they fail to anticipate the trap they were setting for the party chief in gunning for Jaya Bachchan’s disqualification? Maybe things could have been different if Sonia had taken a cue from M. Sashidhar Reddy, a state Congress leader. Reddy, an MLA, was appointed as member, National Disaster Management Authority — equal to an MoS rank. Before accepting the post, he checked out if he was on the wrong side of the “office of profit” clause. When he found he was on shaky ground, he ensured an ordinance was passed exempting the post from the law. Later, he saw to it that a bill to this effect was also passed.

Look who’s cheering for Sonia

But one thing is for sure. Sonia’s resignation has effects even she might not have foreseen.

Bitter critic Subramanyam Swamy’s Janata Party is suddenly singing paeans of the Congress chief. The party’s two MLAs beat the Congressmen hollow in the sycophancy game in the state assembly on Friday, insisting the House pass a resolution hailing the courageous step taken by Sonia. However, there were no takers for this, not even among the ruling Congress.

Thorn in the crown

Controversy is Mukarram Jah’s second name. The heir to the last Nizam, who now mostly lives abroad, is currently in the thick of controversy with his third wife, Manolya Onur, charging him with reneging on the Mehr and maintenance he promised her at the time of their divorce. Manolya has landed in the city with her daughter and is knocking the doors of courts here seeking justice.